Governor declares drought emergency, Marin remembers

Gov. Jerry Brown declares a drought state of emergency while speaking in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. With a record-dry year, reservoir levels under strain and no rain in the forecast, California Gov. Jerry Brown formally proclaimed the state in a drought emergency Friday, confirming what many already knew. Brown made the announcement in San Francisco amid increasing pressure in recent weeks from the state's lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

"Shower with a friend!" became a flip rallying cry that rippled across Marin County after three years of dry weather prompted water rationing almost four decades ago, and it may echo in the region again as Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency Friday in California.

Brown's declaration sets in motion a series of water conservation moves involving state water works, imposes water use reductions at state facilities and launches a publicity campaign promoting conservation that asks residents to reduce water use by 20 percent.

The drought declaration streamlines the rules for water agencies to transfer extra water from one part of the state to another, easing shortages. It also directs the state to hire more seasonal firefighters, limits the landscaping of highways and raises public awareness.

The biggest impact of the governor's crisis posture Friday may be in its public relations and educational value as residents across the state begin to take the water shortage seriously.

"You have to start talking about an issue at the top before people believe it is an issue," said Dietrich Stroeh of Novato, who as manager of the Marin Municipal Water District lead the county through the drought of 1974-77. "When the leader says it's a problem, public awareness of conservation really gets going," he said. "Everyone, every water agency, needs to look at their own situation," Stroeh said, adding that answers to the big question are needed. "What happens if we don't get the rain?"

Before three dry years ended with a gush of 67 inches of rain in the winter of 1977-78, Marin residents faced rationing of 37 gallons a day per person, with supplies piped in from the East Bay through an emergency conduit on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

"We wrote the book on rationing programs," Stroeh said.

A state resources agency study of Marin's experience noted residents came up with creative ways to conserve, made "great sacrifices in convenience and comfort" and slashed water use by 63 percent during 1976-77 "when the reality of severe water shortage (was) impressed upon them." Part of that impression was made by Gov. Brown during his first term when he appeared at a Marin Civic Center press conference in 1977 to talk about drought woes.

Supervisor Katie Rice, agreeing that public education and awareness is the most important result of Gov. Brown's latest drought declaration, saluted the call to arms. "We can never be too early to conserve," she said.

That's a lesson that Supervisor Rice may have learned from her mother, Pamela Lloyd, a Marin water district director during the drought 37 years ago who appeared before state water officials in July 1977 to report on the lingering crisis. "It has become abundantly clear that the uncertainty of near future weather (and) water supply conditions require now the most provident use and equitable allocation of available supplies and the most conservative, flexible and cooperative planning posture possible," Lloyd told state officials.

Although California has a Mediterranean climate and periodically experiences drought, current conditions are particularly dry.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack on Thursday was 17 percent of normal. And last year, most cities in the state received the lowest amount of rain in any living Californian's lifetime. The rainfall records go back to 1850.

For the past 13 months, a huge high-pressure ridge in the atmosphere has sat off the West Coast, diverting storms that normally would bring winter rain northward to Canada.

As a result, reservoir levels are low, farmers and ranchers are suffering, and fire danger is at an extreme level.

A number of county agencies already have taken action to curb water use, including city and county fire officials who on Thursday agreed to limit use of water during training drills.

County Fire Chief Jason Weber has ordered a 25 percent reduction in water use at fire stations, shut down landscape irrigation systems and, for the first time during winter months, hired 14 seasonal firefighters to augment the troops, citing dry weather and high fire danger.

"The fire service is prepared and engaged," the chief said.

Mike Norton, building and maintenance manager at the Civic Center, said officials have taken a number of water conservation steps. "We have either low-flow flush or waterless urinals and toilets" and "we're already on reclaimed water outside the building," he added. Cooling towers on the east side of the building could be shut down to save 500 gallons of water per hour, but doing so would heat up the building as much as 15 degrees. "We could do that if it's necessary," he said.

Agricultural Commissioner Stacy Carlsen said no one needs to tell Marin farmers there's a drought emergency. The drought has killed "95 percent of the pasture in West Marin," and farmers are buying water from the National Park Service to fill their ponds, he said.

Carlsen, holding out hope for federal drought aid, dispatched a letter Friday to the U.S. Department of Agriculture outlining the grim situation. "The drought situation has spiraled down to unsurpassed levels," Carlsen's letter reported. "2013 saw the lowest levels of rainfall in recorded history ... Marin Municipal Water District's official gauge at Lake Lagunitas recorded 10.68 inches while the annual average is 52 inches per year."

Marin Municipal water officials have already taken steps to prepare for the worst. The district has asked customers to conserve, is shifting a reserve supply from Phoenix Lake, will activate reserve supplies at Soulajule reservoir, and is maximizing use of Lake Nicasio. On average, district reservoirs are at 77 percent capacity at this time of year, but now stand at only 55 percent.

In the North Marin Water District, manager Chris DeGabriele has issued a newsletter asking residents to conserve water and take steps including fixing leaky pipes and shutting down landscape irrigation. The district gets most of its water from the Russian River.

Supervisor Steve Kinsey several months ago asked the county's eight water agencies to get together and report back on the drought and what they are doing to cope. That informational session is scheduled Jan. 28 at the Civic Center.

Kate Sears, president of the county board, applauded the gubernatorial declaration of a water emergency, saying a 20 percent conservation cutback makes sense.

"We are all in this together," Sears said.

California normally receives nearly all its annual rainfall during the winter. However, time is running out on this winter.

On Thursday, the drought outlook worsened, as the U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly update of drought conditions by federal agencies and researchers at the University of Nebraska, classified large sections of Northern California, including the Bay Area, as the fourth most severe of five drought categories: "extreme drought."

The update showed that 63 percent of California's land is at that level of drought now, including the Bay Area, up from 27 percent the week before. Worse, scientists at the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center in Maryland issued a 90-day precipitation outlook that said it is likely that California will continue to receive below-normal rainfall at least through April.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency Friday in California. The move, among other things: Directs state agencies, led by the Department of Water Resources, to execute a statewide campaign to encourage and promote water conservation, with a goal of reducing water usage by 20 percent. Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to hire additional seasonal firefighters. Urges cities and water districts to update their water management and drought plans. Orders all state agencies to conserve water, including placing a moratorium on new, nonessential landscaping at public buildings and along highways. Requires state officials to speed approval for voluntary water sales and transfers between willing districts. Orders the Department of Water Resources to accelerate spending on water supply and conservation projects that can break ground this year.